The My Mind’s Eye Decorative Tape 8-pack got to be one of my current favorite ‘go-to’ embellishments! I have developed a washi obsession – it seems to be appearing on almost all of my latest projects! I just LOVE the different colors and patterns that can be found on the My Mind’s Eye tapes, and had so much fun creating a variety of projects this week. This week’s Monday Craft Madness theme…

A World of Washi!

Use washi tape on your projects!

I decided to make a fun collection of crafts this week – just in time to give you that crafty inspiration for all of your Easter projects. I first decided to make some Easter Wall Art, then a washi card and an Easter wreath!

I love seeing the different wall art themes that you can buy in the shops these days. So simple, yet so effective. I decided that I would do an Easter themed wall art using a cutting file from Silhouette with the different colored washi tapes underneath.

I painted an old picture frame and added washi strips and flowers to the frame for extra interest.

The Easter card was so quick and simple to make too!

The washi was used as a background embellishment and around the edge of the card to add a little more color. The image was from Bugaboo which I colored using prismacolor pencils.

When Brittany suggested making an Easter wreath, it seemed like a great idea! Then I thought ‘Oh! How do I do this with washi?’ This wreath was actually super simple to make! I bought a polystyrene wreath, which I painted white, and then began wrapping strips of the washi around it. I loved the effect!

I then tried wrapping the washi directly onto the plastic eggs, but it just kept creasing and didn’t look good! I ended up folding the washi in half lengthways and then sticking this around the eggs.

I hope I have inspired you to start work on your ‘washi’ projects this week. Remember, they can be any project you like – there are so many possibilities!

And in case you haven’t had a chance to join in with the Monday Craft Madness themes this month, don’t forget you have until 29th March to play along. Here are the themes:

Create a project (a card, layout, altered project, or any other craft your heart desires) using any of our weekly themes! You have until the Friday after the final theme is posted to create your project and upload a photo of it somewhere online with a link to this post in the caption. To enter to win, simply leave a comment on our blog with the link to your project! We’ll choose a random winner and they’ll be the lucky recipient of a $20 prize pack from Scrapbook.Steals.com at the end of the month!

Just note that this is separate from Mid Week Mojo, so you’ll have at least two fun projects a week you can dive into.

Don’t forget to check back in with us tomorrow a How To’sday post by Winter Design Team Member Cristine Redmond!

Inspiration is such an amazing thing. I love when someone posts a project on our Facebook fan page, which creates a buzz and has multiple requests for a “How To’sday” tutorial. Today’s wreath project by Kara Anderson is one of those requests!

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Paper Flower Wreath

I can’t take credit for the creative genius of this gorgeous paper flower wreath—it’s originally from the Fancy Pants Designs blog and was created by Ronda Palazzari. It is gorgeous. For Christmas last year I decided to make one for mom and one for myself using the Fancy Pants Christmas Magic paper. I absolutely love it — so much so that it’s still hanging in my house. I thought it would be nice to reserve that one for fall/winter and make another one for spring/summer, so I found some bright, springy paper and made another one. Here are the instructions so you can brighten up your home with one too!

Materials Needed:

Patterned paper (I used WRMK Hippity Hoppity for this one and Fancy Pants Christmas Magic for my fall/winter one)

Tape runner

Scissors

Glue gun

Foam floral ring

T-pins

Buttons and beads

Instructions:

It is best to do this like an assembly line. I started by cutting all of my strips of paper, then folded them all, then cut, etc. Some of the steps can be done while watching TV!

1. Cut your paper into strips. You need three strips per flower and you’ll need 2 different sizes of flowers.

For the larger flower cut your paper into 1.5 inch x 4 inch strips.

For the smaller flower cut your paper into 1 inch x 3 inch strips.

2. Fold your strip in half from top to bottom. Then fold it in half length wise.

3. Using your scissors, cut in an arc from the outside to the fold part. This makes the point of the flower.

4. Unfold the pattern paper and you’ll have a squished oval shape.

5. Now fold this oval in half top down, you will see the backside of the patterned paper.

6. Fold part of one side back up. Then flip it over and do the same thing on the other side other side.

7. Fold in half again.

8. Holding the center, run your finger underneath each petal to pop it out.

9. You will need 3 petals for every flower.

10. Once you have the petals all popped out, take your tape runner and put a little dab of tape/adhesive in the fold and pinch the petals together.

11. Now you are ready to assemble your flowers. Cut small circles out of the scrap paper for the base.

12. Take your glue gun and add a good sized drop of hot glue on the center of the base. Put all three petals of the flower side by side on the hot glue. While the glue is still soft, pick up your flower while holding it in the center and fluff the petals so it looks nice and full. Then let the glue harden and voila! A beautiful paper flower! Repeat until you have enough flowers to fill up your wreath. I used approximately 15 large flowers and 25 small flowers.

13. To build your wreath, take your flowers and place them randomly around the floral ring using T-pins to secure them in. Keep building around until your wreath looks full. I started with the larger flowers and then filled in the spaces with the smaller ones.

14. Then add buttons or beads to the center of each flower using your glue gun.

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Kara, can I say how much I love your project! Your step by step instructions have made it look so easy. I’m thinking a cute 4th of July wreath will be in my near future.

If you have a great idea for a How To’sday tutorial and would like to be featured on our blog then please send your idea with images and instructions to kristy@stealnetwork.com.